Nigel Portwood has been appointed as Oxford University Press' chief executive officer effective from the summer when Dr Henry Reece will retire.
Portwood is currently executive vice president (EVP), global operations for the Penguin Group, based in New York. He has direct responsibility for several Penguin businesses including Dorling Kindersley and Penguin South Africa and global responsibility for operational functions across Penguin. Portwood has driven digital business development in Penguin and is the leader of a Pearson-wide group responsible for developing the company's digital strategy.
Portwood said: "It is a real privilege to take up this appointment in an organisation with a world-renowned reputation for excellence and achievement in academic and educational publishing. Under Henry Reece's leadership the business has built strong global positions in many educational markets and I look forward to working with the team to build on that success, addressing the many exciting opportunities that are before us."
The appointment of Portwood was made by the delegates of Oxford University Press - a committee of Oxford academics appointed by the university to oversee OUP's affairs. OUP vice chancellor Dr John Hood said: "The Press is a core department of the University that extends the educational reach and impact that it has around the world. Over the last decade Dr Reece has overseen a period of tremendous growth for the Press, the results of which the whole University can be proud. Finding a strong successor to take the Press's work forward has been very important for the University, and I am confident that Nigel Portwood has the experience, talent, and vision to undertake this leadership role."